By Paula Pant
As we close out 2025, premium credit cards got pricier, and a lot more “coupon-y,” and plenty of us are wondering if the points game is still worth the effort.
In this episode, we sit down with Chris Hutchins, host of All the Hacks, to talk about what’s actually changed in credit card rewards, […]
By Paula Pant
We’re joined in-studio by David Bach, bestselling author of The Automatic Millionaire and The Latte Factor. He’s updated his most popular book (over two million copies sold) and this is his last big launch as he heads into retirement.
Together, we wrestle with a problem our listeners know well: what happens when you’ve built the […]
By Paula Pant
Welcome to the last First Friday episode of the year. Today, we’ll dive into an unprecedented moment in the U.S. economy: a missing jobs report, a divided Federal Reserve, a sluggish labor market, and a holiday shopping season shaped by AI, bargain hunters, and low consumer confidence.
In this episode, we […]
Written By Paula Pant
It’s Giving Tuesday.
You probably woke up thinking it would be simple: write a check, feel good, move on.
Instead you’ve found yourself in a full-blown negotiation with your spouse.
Together, you’ve set aside $500 for charity.
You want to give to your university.
Your spouse wants to fund malaria prevention.
Both charities offer a […]
By Paula Pant
Today’s episode is a special rerun from the Afford Anything “greatest hits” vault, one that’s especially timely as we move through peak shopping season.
Originally aired in January 2020, this conversation with behavioral economist Jeff Kreisler digs into the hidden psychology behind sales, discounts, so-called “free shipping,” and all the subtle […]
By Paula Pant
JL Collins doesn’t know what the efficient frontier is. The author of “The Simple Path to Wealth” — the guy synonymous with VTSAX and chill — admits this right off the bat when we challenge him with advanced investing concepts.
Collins joins us for Part 1 of a two-part series where we skip the basics and dive straight into the complex stuff. We grill him on whether his simple approach actually beats more sophisticated strategies, and his answer might surprise you.
He concedes that Paul Merriman’s four-fund portfolio probably outperforms his one-fund approach mathematically. But Collins argues that execution trumps optimization every time. Most people can’t stick with complex strategies for 20 years, especially when those strategies require selling winners to buy losers – something that goes against human nature.
Collins prioritizes what works in real life over what looks good on paper. He calls index funds “self-cleansing” because they automatically rotate out failing companies and sectors while rotating in the new winners. You don’t need to predict which companies will dominate next – you’ll own whatever rises to the top.
The episode covers his thoughts on VTSAX versus VTI, international diversification, and why he’d rather put Tabasco than Cholula on his eggs — his quirky way of explaining personal preferences in nearly identical investment options.
By Paula Pant
An anonymous caller feels trapped in a no-win situation with her financially reckless mother. She has the means to bail her out, but it doesn’t feel right. What should she do?
Shannon is excited about investing in several companies overseas. But she can only access them using American Depository Receipts. What are they, and how do they work?
Jennifer calls back with an update on putting a vacation on a credit card and playing the rewards game.
Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these questions in today’s episode.
Enjoy!
By Paula Pant
Two school teachers in Ohio saved their entire lives for one dream — buying a farm.
When they inherited $1.3 million and found the perfect property for $1.2 million, everything seemed perfect.
Five days before closing, they received what looked like a legitimate email from their closing company with wire transfer instructions. They sent the money and showed up at closing, only to discover they’d been scammed.
The email was fake, sent by hackers who had infiltrated the closing company’s servers for months, waiting for exactly this type of high-value cash deal.
That story comes from cybersecurity expert Dr. Eric Cole, who joins us to explain why ordinary people have become prime targets for cybercriminals.
Cole, a former CIA hacker who served as cybersecurity commissioner under President Barack Obama and advises high-profile clients including Bill Gates’ personal estate, has a message: if you think you’re too small to be targeted, you’re wrong.
While billion-dollar companies deploy teams of 60 cybersecurity professionals, you have virtually no protection.
Criminals know this. They’re not trying to steal $100 million from one person anymore — they’re stealing $50 from thousands of people every month.
You probably won’t notice the small amounts vanishing from your accounts. Cole calls it “death by a thousand cuts,” and it’s happening right now.
We talk through the most common attacks targeting your money. Bank hacking is simpler than most people realize. All criminals need is your account number — printed on every check you write — and your password. With that information, they can often perform electronic fund transfers of up to 50 percent of your account balance without triggering alerts.
We also cover the China-TikTok connection, secure messaging options, and why Cole helped configure President Obama’s smartphone to connect to fake cell towers that masked his actual location.
Cole’s bottom line: cybersecurity isn’t just for tech companies anymore. Criminals are targeting ordinary people because we’re easier prey than heavily protected corporations. Your money is under threat. Here’s how to protect it.
By Paula Pant
Emily is nervous that buying their first home will derail her family’s journey to financial independence. What’s the smartest way to deploy their savings and stay on track?
Based on cap rate calculations, Paul’s real estate investments have appreciated beyond their sensible holding point. Should he sell his assets, or is there more to consider here?
Mike is recently retired while his wife still works. With a paid-off home and healthcare already taken care of, what are best practices for drawing down an investment portfolio?
Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode.
Enjoy!
P.S. Got a question? Leave it here.
By Paula Pant
George is a worried baby boomer, wondering if today’s generation is drowning in the noise of today’s financial landscape. How does one find a balance between information and overload?
Heather is stunned by the notion that renting could make more financial sense than buying. Where she’s from, the numbers seem to always swing in favor of owning. What’s she missing?
Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these questions in today’s episode.
Enjoy!
